What Do You Do When Life is Hard?

Without giving all the details, life is really hard right now. I am sure we have all been there at some point. Discouragement. Anxiety. Sadness. Longing. And some days I just want to pack my bags and head to greener pastures. The grass IS always greener on the other side, right? In my most desperate moments, I have found myself googling real estate back in Michigan and envisioning my "perfect life" over there.

But life isn't perfect in Michigan. Or Kenya. Or anywhere on this green earth. Trouble will find me wherever I go. Good thing I don't believe in the prosperity gospel or I would have given up long ago.  Truth is, we are told in scripture, "In this world you WILL have trouble..." Why am I so surprised when it happens then?

Why do I think I can run from it?  Somehow I need to find God in the midst of my trouble and allow Him to give me the peace that passes all understanding. I need to understand the theology of suffering - and realize that my suffering (as big or small as it may be) will produce in me perseverance and character. I can emerge from this time of hardship a better person if I allow suffering to do it's work.

So what am I doing? Well, here are a few things that I am trying to do (although I don't get it right all the time!):

• Fill my mind with TRUTH. In moments of hardship, it is so easy to listen to Satan's lies. So I need to combat those lies with truth from God's Word.  I try to dwell on things that are "true, noble, right, pure, lovely and admirable..." (Phil. 4:8) 

• Find someone to lift me up. Some days, I need someone else to do it for me. When I can't think of anything good, I go for a walk with a friend who can remind me of God's truth in my life. I need to surround myself with godly people who will point me to Jesus.

• Get some fresh air. It is so easy to hole up and wallow when I am down. I feel so much better after I get out and do what I need to do. Sometimes it is just doing the next thing - my job, the laundry, .....or just taking a walk to clear my head.

• Realize that this too shall pass. This hardship I am going through will not last forever. Hopefully someday (soon) I will be able to look back and see what God taught me through this rough patch in my life. 

Breaking the Silence

It has been far too long since I have updated this blog. It is definitely time to break the silence and let you know what we are up to. As we serve here at Rift Valley Academy, we are well aware that we have many prayer warriors lifting us up and we are grateful. Thank you. 

We continue with our jobs of teaching and administration here at RVA. We have just started a new school year here - our 17th one. Hard to fathom we have been here that long! 

This year there has been a new goal presented to us: that each class “adopt” an unreached people group in Africa to pray for. As we progress through this first term of the new school year, we have already had students coming up on stage on Sunday mornings in church to share about their people group and how we can pray. It is so powerful. These kids get it. They understand the words of the gospel, “Go into all the world and preach the good news.” Making Jesus known among all nations and tribes is priority. It is beautiful to see. 

My third graders have adopted the Orma tribe. Hearing their simple, yet sincere prayers humble me. “God, help the Orma to come to know Jesus.” 

There are 13 tribes that have claimed a part of our hearts here on campus. From kindergarten to 12th grade, we are praying for each one - hoping that someday we will be at the throne of God, alongside brothers and sisters in Christ, worshipping God in every language. But to add perspective, there are nearly 1000 unreached people groups in Africa alone. 

In some ways, our prayer for these people is similar to my blog title - we want to break the silence. We want people to know there is hope. There is light. There is Jesus. 

This morning in church, our speaker shared from Psalm 67. When he shared about telling the nations about God’s saving power, he asked if anyone in the audience felt like God was leading them into missions someday. All around the room, I saw young people rise to their feet. These are kids who understood. Our greatest mission here on earth is to make God known. It was humbling and amazing.  To God be the Glory.